Campbell prepares for presidential transition

Campbell University President Jerry Wallace will retire Wednesday after 12 years at the helm of the growing school. J. Bradley Creed, a nationally recognized religion historian, will replace him on Thursday.

Posted 1:59 p.m. Jun 29, 2015 — Updated 2:28 p.m. Jun 29, 2015

BUIES CREEK, N.C. — Campbell University President Jerry Wallace will retire Wednesday after 12 years at the helm of the growing school. J. Bradley Creed, a nationally recognized religion historian, will replace him on Thursday.

Creed comes to Campbell from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., where he was a professor of religion, provost and executive vice president.

A search committee of trustees, faculty, staff and students unanimously recommended Creed to the Board of Trustees in January, at the conclusion of a six-month process.

“Dr. Creed is the embodiment of all we hoped to find in Campbell’s next president," Benjamin Thompson, chairman of Campbell's Board of Trustees, said in a statement. "He brings the breadth of vision and depth of experience required to lead Campbell to even greater levels of regional and national prominence. He is a man of strong personal faith and deep integrity. I am confident that Campbell has found the right leader at the right time.”

A Jacksonville, Texas, native, Creed received a bachelor's degree in religion from Baylor University and master's and doctoral degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

During his time at Samford, he helped launch the College of Health Sciences in 2013, and played a key role in efforts to increase the size, retention and academic quality of the undergraduate student body. He also previously served as dean of The George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor.

Wallace led Campbell to record enrollment and oversaw the opening of the medical school and launch of four other health degree programs.

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